I think this will be my last "Big Brother" post, and--to end on a high note--the theme of this one is "go big or go home".

At our house for the past few years, when the Kid wakes up on his birthday there is an epic train track built in the living room--hills, all of his big station pieces, the works. For him, it's better than Christmas.

You needn't have a small train engineer to do this, though. And you needn't wait for a birthday. Does it look like snow tomorrow where you are? Awesome! Get out your kiddo's toys--super heros, dolls, whatever he/she is into--and go to town setting up a playscape.

Make a mess. Use your imagination. If you don't have fun setting it up, you're doing it wrong.

Then, get up early, make yourself a cup of coffee, and just watch their little faces when they see the fun that's sprung up in the night.